REFLECTIONS FROM THE INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Dear Community,

The Inclusive Excellence Summit on April 2 was an amazing day on the Hill! Our day started off with swag items at registration and then our keynote speaker, Professor of Music and Director of the St. Olaf Choir. Anton Armstrong delivered a powerful message to the community. The morning continued with a professional session and then our featured chapel speaker, Professor of Philosophy and Chair of Russian Language and Area Studies Corliss Swain. Following chapel, we came together for a delicious lunch and recognized three community members who have gone above and beyond due to their work on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. After reviewing the nominations from the community, the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team. The Inclusive Excellence team selected Director of Academic Success Center Kathy Glampe, Associate Professor in Sociology Ryan Sheppard, and Zaria Irving ‘25 for the 2024 Equity and Inclusion Leadership and Service Award. Congratulations to Kathy, Ryan, and Zaria! After lunch, we transitioned into afternoon sessions until the end of the program. It was such a memorable day with 250 attendees which was an increase from last year!

A big thank you to everyone who worked hard to make this day happen: Bon Appetit staff; the College Events Team; Carlos and Kierra in Marketing and Communications; Advancement; Marina Edlund; Zaria Irving ’25; Mexica Greco ’25; Anton Armstrong; Hassel Morrison; our presenters; and the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team (Mari Avaloz, Corliss Swain, Jake Grossman, and Chang Dao Vang).

Another big thank you to our alumni who came back to campus and shared their expertise in professional sessions:

• Dr. Bryan Bass ’95, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Achievement, Osseo Area Schools
• Paul Johnson ’08, Organizational Development and Equity Partner, City of Plymouth
• Vince Omni ’96, McKnight Doctoral Fellow, Department of English, Florida State University
• Jenny Sippel ’00, Faculty Liberian and Instructor, Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Wishing you all a wonderful April,

— Dr. Reginald H. Miles
Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion 

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Warp and Weft: A selection of staff and faculty led DEI efforts across St. Olaf Campus

Presented here is a small selection of work submitted by departments, staff, and faculty that illustrate the breadth of our endeavors to weave DEI into the fabric of this institution and create a space where our students and colleagues feel welcome, included, and have the resources and opportunities to thrive at St. Olaf.

Campus Community Summer Plans

The St. Olaf Office of Equity and Inclusion wants to hear about what you’re most looking forward to this summer. Submissions will be spotlighted, with the consent of the featured individuals, in the May edition of the DEI Updates newsletter. Submit here for a chance to be featured!

Meet Members of Our Community

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE SUMMIT CHAPEL SPEAKER

Corliss Swain (she/her/hers)

Position: Professor of Philosophy; Chair of Russian Language and Area Studies; and San Francisco Bay 1 Posse Mentor

From: Dickinson, North Dakota

Education:
B.A., Philosophy, Religious Studies minor | University of North Dakota
M.A., and Ph.D., Philosophy | Loyola University Chicago

When did you start your St. Olaf journey as a faculty member?
September 1987

Why did you want to work at St. Olaf College?
I was excited to work at a serious liberal arts college with really good students and a really good philosophy department.

What is your definition of an inclusive community?
For me, an inclusive community is one where every member is able to be themselves as they contribute their gifts and skills to the community, and where every member is able to participate in shaping those goals in line with their own values, identities, and commitments.

What would you like to be remembered for in the future during your time on the hill?
When I doubted whether I belonged here early in my career, what really made a difference for me were two people, Vicki Harper and Fred Stoutland, who served as mentors and supporters. I hope I’ve made that kind of difference in my work as a mentor and supporter of students and faculty members, and especially those who were struggling to belong. That would be a great legacy!

What is your personal ‘tagline’?
You’ll never find a better answer if you think the one you have is good enough (inspired by Socrates)

No one knows that I … 
… sing my favorite Puccini arias in the shower and a little Mozart, Bizet, and Verdi for variety.

Bias Response at the College

St. Olaf College is committed to fostering a welcoming community for all students, faculty, and staff. An informed awareness of the climate on campus is an important part of the college’s efforts to create a supportive academic and residential environment for our community. The college does not tolerate any bias incidents toward its community members. The college expects its students, faculty, and staff to refrain from acts of intolerance directed at other members, including (but not limited to) harassment, hate speech, and discrimination. Reporting Bias.

What is a bias incident?

A bias incident is any behavior or actions directed against a person or property that includes the use of slurs expressing prejudice on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression, but is not a criminal offense.

Examples of bias incidents include the following:

• Using offensive language or slang based on a person’s identity
• Offensive social media post
• Tampering property
• Violent acts

What are microaggressions?

Microaggressions are brief, common exchanges that are often automatic and unintentional. They include verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative insults to a targeted group or individuals based on race, color, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Examples of Microaggressions include the following:

• Comments that single out a person based on their identity
• Deliberately not using a transgender person’s preferred pronouns
• Excluding a person due to religious practices

The Bias Response Team contains members of our community and some of the members serve in an advisory role with a goal of confirming that each case is addressed.

Members of the Team Include:

• Derek Kruse, Director of Public Safety (Advisory Group)
• Pamela McDowell, Title IX Coordinator (Advisory Group)
• Brisa Zubia, Associate Director of International Student Programs (Advisory Group)
• Doug Casson, Department Chair of Political Science (Advisory Group)
• Justin Fleming, Senior Associate Dean of Students
• Reginald Miles, Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion/Chair of Bias Response Team

What happens when a bias incident report is submitted?

1. The Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion consults with the General Counsel to determine bias and forwards the report to the Bias Response Team.
2. The Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion contacts the reporting party to acknowledge that the bias incident report has been received.
3. The report is sent to the appropriate individuals (below) to manage the case. Appropriate parties are contacted about the case and the cases are investigated. The College’s General Counsel is involved at times due to the severity of the case.
4. Individuals managing cases will report back to the advisory group with the result of their cases at the end of each month.
5. Each report will indicate whether the incident is bias and be part of the College’s tracking and reporting.

Students

• Student submits a report regarding another student– Senior Associate Dean of Students will manage the case
• Student submits a report regarding a faculty member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case
• Student submits a report regarding a staff member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case

Faculty

• Faculty member submits a report regarding another faculty member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will work with the Provost’s Office
• Faculty member submits a report regarding a staff member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
• Faculty member submits a report regarding a student- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case

Staff

• Staff member submits a report regarding another staff member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case
• Staff member submits a report regarding a faculty member- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case
• Staff member submits a report regarding a student- Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case

Events

Building an Art Exhibition: Africa & Byzantium
Tuesday, April 16 | 5 p.m. | CAD Studio 305 | Add to Calendar
A presentation by Dr. Andrea Achi, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Associate Curator of Byzantine Art at the Metropolitan Art Museum of ArtSponsored by the Leraas Lecture Fund and the Departments of Art and Art History and Race, Ethnic, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Access to Education: An International Ole Experience
Tuesday, April 16 | 3:30 p.m. | Viking Theater | Add to Calendar
Mary Maker ’23 will be sharing with us her thoughts on educational access, and tie it into her lived experience as an International Ole. Sponsored by the Taylor Center of Equity and Inclusion.

Taylor Center Out for Lunch Series: Repairing the Heart from Religious Harm to Address Religious Hurt
Thursday, April 25  | 11:30 a.m. | TC Lounge (BC111) | RSVP Here

Jay Xiong: A First-Generation Student’s Rise to a Life of Public Service
Wednesday, May 1 | 5 p.m. | Viking Theater
Jay Xiong ’10, who was part of SSS and a first-generation student, will talk about his journey from graduation to the Minnesota State Capital. Jay now serves as a representative for his home neighborhood in St. Paul. Sponsored by the Taylor Center of Equity and Inclusion.

2024 Taylor Center Senior Banquet
Saturday, May 4 | BC Ballrooms | RSVP Open to Seniors | More Information

George Floyd Fellowship for Social Change 2024–25 Applications are Open!
Apply HERE by April 19

Dedicated Affinity Groups for Faculty and Staff

If you want to learn more about our affinity groups and how you can get involved, reach out to your colleagues below: